If your business relies on complex inventory management, Desktop’s more comprehensive tools are likely a better fit. Bundle Cricut highlights Desktop’s one-time purchase model, which can lead to cost savings over time, especially for established businesses with predictable needs. Forbes also notes that Desktop is a good choice for businesses comfortable with accounting principles and that don’t require real-time collaboration. Since QuickBooks Online offers four cloud-based plans, it easily grows with your business.
If you’re scaling from five to 25 users and need advanced features like fixed asset accounting, then go with Advanced. You can access your financial data from anywhere with an internet connection—whether you’re at the office, working from home, or on the go. This makes it easier to stay organized and collaborate with your team, as Zapier points out. This cloud-based system also makes it simple for your team, including accountants and other key personnel, to work together on a single platform. You can download a 30-day trial version of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise only—both the Premier Plus and Pro Plus plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, but no free trial. Alternatively, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial with QuickBooks Online.
QuickBooks Online Subscription Model
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. No matter which version of QuickBooks Desktop you’re using, you can switch to QuickBooks Online quickly and seamlessly. With our online migration tool, you can move all your data or move only what’s key—like balances and specific lists.
Small Business Statistics for 2024
- And if you’re interested in joining a team focused on financial optimization, check out our career opportunities.
- While QuickBooks Desktop allows multiple users, it can be more expensive to set up and manage as your team grows.
- The Desktop Premier edition escalates to 150+ reports, including industry-specific reports for general contractors, manufacturers and wholesalers, nonprofits, and retailers.
- QuickBooks Online shines when it comes to connecting with other apps.
Answer a few questions accounting technology about what matters to your business and we’ll recommend the right fit. You can send email invites to your accountant from within the software. Find help articles, video tutorials, and connect with other businesses in our online community. Answer a few questions about what’s important to your business and we’ll recommend the right fit.
Pros and Cons
You just need to select the bills you want to pay from the Pay Bills window, place a checkmark next to the bills, and then select Save or Save and Print. The QuickBooks Online comparison chart below highlights some of the key features of the five versions. We include in-depth, side-by-side comparisons of each plan against its next-level tier in the sections that follow. You can send a copy of your company file to your accountant and import their changes. Testimonial given in an online survey among remunerated QBO customers.
Industry-Specific Features
If you purchased a Desktop Pro plan in 2021, your software will still work until 2024—but new customers who bought the 2022 software version can only choose annual subscriptions. QuickBooks Online has been part of the Intuit accounting software family for a few decades now. Since QuickBooks Online is browser-based, not desktop-based, you can log on to your Quickbooks Online account from any web-enabled device with a sturdy internet connection. If you go with QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier, a payroll add-on is available for an additional monthly fee. While these products will still be available to existing users, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll for Pro and Premier will no longer be available for new users to purchase starting on September 31, 2024.
Ease of use cma vs cpa gets the highest weight in this case study because we want to give more credit to easy accounting software. For this section, we considered customer service, support network, and a subjective expert opinion score. Users must have easy access to customer service channels in case of problems, questions, or assistance. This takes into account customer management, revenue recognition, invoice management, and collections. However, there are a couple of limitations with QuickBooks Simple Start.
The QuickBooks mobile app is also available for free and lets you manage your account on the go. Choosing between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop depends on your business needs, budget, states with the lowest taxes and the highest taxes and preferences. QuickBooks Online offers greater accessibility and flexibility, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with remote teams. On the other hand, QuickBooks Desktop provides a more comprehensive feature set and greater customization options, suitable for businesses with complex accounting requirements. While this gives you more control, it also means you’re responsible for initiating and implementing them.